New Year's Resolution: Get Organized!

Design Expert: Clay Ide, Creative Director at Pottery Barn

Have you ever wondered how Pottery Barn always creates that perfect sense of casual style that so many of us look to emulate in our homes?  Between the beautiful pages of the coveted catalogs lies a secret-- Clay Ide.

Clay is the creative force behind the Pottery Barn Catalog and website and has been with Pottery Barn for the past 23 years.  He has been in charge of creative direction for the Pottery Barn catalog since 1990 and as the company grew, his partnership with them also expanded.  According to Clay, "it's been quite a ride!"  Though he and I had never crossed direct paths, our colleagues and friends have long said to me "You HAVE to work together!"  And ten is the perfect reason to collaborate.  With his plate always overflowing with amazing personal and professional opportunities, Clay believes organization is a major part of good design and a good life.  Here, he shares his perspective on how to Get Organized in the New Year. 

"Every year just after the holidays, my thoughts turn to the New Year ahead.  I tend to think about resolutions that relate to organizing my home and work environment with style in mind because I see it as crucial to my success in the coming year."

 

Like many of us, Clay begins by looking around his home and considering where to start.  "The walls in my home have a very muted and neutral color palette, but I like to add a touch of serious color for a spectacular effect.  I've chosen one dramatic and large wall along my staircase that, when painted, adds color to the entire house.  This wall also becomes my gallery where I organize and display my art collection.  Last year, I chose a deep red, Caliente, AF-290.  It was brilliant and always made me feel energized!  This year, I'm into a bright and soft yellow, Rattan, AF-375.  Both are from Benjamin Moore's Aura line so I know the color will cover in two coats and I can spend more time deciding how to rearrange my art than waiting for the painting to be done."

 

Just changing one accent wall can make for a fresh start in the New Year.

 

Clay is a proponent of repainting at least one major element in your space that's used often.  Another option he suggests is revisiting the front door.  "The front door is the first thing, and the last, that you or visitors see when they visit your house.  It's really easy and affordable to replace the old doormat with a new one.  I like Williams-Sonoma's Coir Doormat with Rubber Frame-- and I add personalization, but not a name, just a word that inspires me and describes my goal for the year."  Here's Clay's doormat this year: 

 

Adding accessories like a meaningful doormat or planters can be complimented by a new front door color, too.  According to Clay, "These areas need touch up every year anyway, so why not make a statement with a pronounced color that draws in your guests' attention for a dramatic entrance into your home?  Considering a color and accessories that set the tone for your year can do wonders for organizing your thoughts, too."

 

 

Organizing your look can be extended to pillows.  Clay finds it to be easy and affordable to buy a few new decorative pillowcases.  "I love the solid color Pottery Barn Jute Braid Pillow Cases for their simplicity and quality.  By mixing them with other styles of pillows,  I create an eclectic update that keeps my living room looking pulled together and current."  Part of organization is putting things in the right spot, so Clay makes it a point to store the old, dry cleaned pillow cases in a storage box for future use.  As he says, "You never know when they may work perfectly with a trending style."

 

We all have our organizational secrets and Clay's include boxes.  "I've got a passion for old boxes.  Every year I like to give the house a simple Christmas present.  This year, it's boxes.  They are decorative AND store things out of sight.  This year, I was drawn to a Moroccan box from Maison K in Montecito.  The beautiful box holds all of my spare candles, tapers, matches, and candleholders and helps me minimize clutter."

 

Often, getting organized means letting things go.  Clay is an avid reader and has a collection of old books for display.  But he says, "I'm not a keeper of the new books I read.  I like to go through them at the end of the year and fill up several paper grocery bags with what I can live without.  Some, I list on Bookmooch.  It's a great find where you can either trade or donate them to charity.  You simply mail them away and receive new books that interest you while connecting with other book lovers!  I also donate the other books I have to the 'free bin' at my favorite local bookstore."

 

While Clay gives away his books, his photography is a different story.  "Getting organized also means taking care of the things you truly love.  I have drawers full of old photographs.  It's what I hold dear to me after having lost originals years ago in a small flood.  Since then, I am adamant about taking a selection of my real negatives (yes, negatives!) and sending them to a scanning service called Scan Cafe.  They carefully scan my negatives and send me a cd which I try to organize and label on Picasa.  I try to share the online archive with my family & friends who are always surprised to see these photos go digital after so many years!"

 

No matter the tricks and tips, some good old fashioned reduction and reorganization will carry you through the year.  Clay sifts through his collection of watches and decides which ones to wear, salvage, or part with.

With everything in order at home, Clay moves on to his office.  "It may seem simple, but I always feel refreshed when get my office reworked and restyled.  I spend so many hours there, so it's worth the effort!"  In Clay's work, ideas are invaluable, so he collects and stores sketches, photos, and scribbles well so he can bring them out to inspire and surprise his team with great finds.  He also takes the time to sort through all those papers we all collect through the year like receipts that overflow out of drawers.  Clay eventually will store everything in plain shoeboxes that are covered, as he says, "Hollywood Style."  That's where you wrap the lower box first, with flaps overlapping the rim and taped inside, and the same with the lid.  That way the whole box is covered in your favorite color or pattern, but it opens easily."

 

Another neglected space that Clay suggests we add some order to is our car.  "By the end of the year, my car is simply messy!  I take time to replace my roadside kit, cleaning supplies, and do an assessment of the storage compartments.  One of our stylists at Pottery Barn taught me to use beautiful, but practical, lidded wicker baskets for everything in my car.  The basket keeps everything contained, only takes a little space, and looks fabulous, too!"

 

Clay's off to a positive start for the new year and decade and he's got me thinking, too.  I've started opening up neglected drawers and boxes and considering which wall(s) to repaint this year.  How will you stay organized this year?

 

 
 
   
Congratulations to Katherine Bontempo for the first correct answer!
 

From the launch of Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen catalogs to all websites for Pottery Barn, Clay Ide has overseen many chapters in Pottery Barn's history.  In between, Clay was also the executive editor for the highly reputed Pottery Barn Home book series.  Over his 23 years with the company, Clay has directed that style and life that is Pottery Barn.

Bonus: Visit HomeWorkshop.com to download your copy of Clay Ide's Ten Tips on Getting Organized in the New Year. 

Comments

[paintergal]

27 colors
jicama

[Mike Ortelle]

There are 21 paint colors and Jicama is the color named after the mexican turnip!

[Tanya Ortelle]

There are 66 colors in the January 2010 pottery barn fan deck and the color Jicama is named after the mexican turnip!

[Cindi]

There are 54 paint colors and jicama is a mexican turnip!
Thanks,, Cindi

[Katherine Bontempo]

There are 29 colors and Jicama is the same name as the mexican turnip

[Lisa]

66 colors
Jicama

[maria]

28 jicama

[Nancy Manning, Hornbeck Design Partnrs]

It's always fun to read about what other designers think. And it's interesting to learn that many of us think alike. I have already started "New Year" cleaning projects in my own home including pillows, boxes and new fresh wall color. Great post Kathy & Clay!

[Living in Color]

I couldn't agree more with you, Chris. There's something just inspiring when your repaint a wall, much less a room or an entire house. I think it sort of gives you a fresh start which is so welcomed at the beginning of each year!
Thanks for writing in!

[Living in Color]

Wow, Lisa, that's great!! It's funny how we don't alays think about the places that we spend so much time in. Clay's got us covered with some great ideas, though!

[Chris]

Great tips! You don't often think about painting a wall as a way to help you get organized; however, the color on a wall sets the mood for the space and can bring a sense of renewal to your spirit. In addition, it definitely inspires additional de-cluttering and organization of other items in the room.

[Lisa]

I've been inspired by this post to begin this year organizing my office space. It is so easy to work day in and day out and take that space for granted. I checked out the link to the lidded baskets and think that is a fantastic way to begin.